Stay updated with the biggest headlines for Thursday, 20 November—politics, crime, sports, and more—all summarized for quick reading. Get instant access to breaking news, major developments, and trending stories in just one click. Perfect for busy readers who want news on the go.
Top news of the day
After the NDA secured a majority in the Bihar elections, a new government was formed today. Nitish Kumar became the Chief Minister of Bihar for the 10th time. Meanwhile, Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha from the BJP were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers.
Along with them, a total of 26 cabinet ministers were sworn in, including 14 from the BJP, 8 from the JDU, 2 from the LJP, and one each from HAM and RLSP. Nine new faces have been included in this NDA cabinet, including Sanjay Kumar Singh from the LJP. Let's find out who Sanjay Kumar Singh is.
A tragic accident occurred in the Tamhini Ghat area of Maharashtra's Raigad district, where a Thar SUV plunged into a 400-foot-deep ravine, killing six young men. The accident occurred on Tuesday morning, but police were notified on Thursday. Officials stated that the precise location of the vehicle was determined only with the help of a drone camera.
The deceased are estimated to be between 18 and 22 years old. All the young men had left Pune late Monday night in the Thar SUV. Tamhini Ghat, a scenic mountain road connecting Raigad and Pune districts, is often a popular picnic spot.
Kia Motors is preparing to launch its popular SUV, the Seltos, in an all-new avatar in 2026. According to media reports, it will come with several advanced and premium features compared to the new-generation Creta. Although the company has not yet provided official details, testing and leaks have revealed that the new Seltos could set new standards in its segment.
Testing models of the new Seltos have been spotted with 6-7 parking sensors, leading to speculation that it could feature features like auto parking or auto parallel parking. Additionally, rear seat ventilation could also be added, providing increased passenger comfort. This feature was previously only seen in the Kia Cieros, but it could be implemented in an even more advanced manner in the new Seltos.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken full responsibility for the investigation into the car bomb blast near the Red Fort Metro station on November 10th, which killed 13 people and injured over 20. As part of the investigation, four key suspects, three doctors and a cleric, have been brought to Delhi from Srinagar Central Jail for in-depth, face-to-face questioning.
Indian cricket team batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has supported head coach Gautam Gambhir in the controversy surrounding the Kolkata pitch. The pitch controversy began after India lost the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens by 30 runs. Following the match, Gambhir defended the pitch in a press conference, stating that it was the pitch the Indian team had requested.
Many cricketing luminaries questioned Gambhir's statement. Sitanshu Kotak clarified that Gambhir made this statement to protect the pitch curators from backlash. According to Kotak, "Gautam took the blame because he didn't want the curators to take the blame. In India, we rely on spin and typically expect matches to last four to four and a half days. Fast bowlers are in play on the first and second days."
The Union Home Ministry has abolished the decades-old requirement of sign-on, sign-off, and shore leave passes for all Indian ships operating exclusively within the country's coastal regions. Providing relief to Indian seafarers, the Union Home Ministry on Thursday abolished two decades-old immigration procedures.
The two key regulations abolished by the Home Ministry require crews of Indian-flagged ships, such as dredgers, research vessels, and others, operating solely within the confines of Indian ports, to follow a sign-on and sign-off system and a shore leave pass (SLP) process.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken full responsibility for the investigation into the car bomb blast near the Red Fort Metro station on November 10th, which killed 13 people and injured over 20. As part of the investigation, four key suspects, three doctors and a cleric, have been brought to Delhi from Srinagar Central Jail for in-depth, face-to-face questioning.
Around 178 climbers and locals were trapped after a sudden eruption of Mount Semeru, the country's highest volcano, on the Indonesian island of Java. Indonesian officials said on Thursday that all were being safely rescued. According to officials, these people were staying at a camping area called Ranu Kumbolo, which is outside the main danger zone. However, volcanic ash reached there as well, causing difficulties for climbers.
A mysterious visitor has arrived in space – Comet 3I/ATLAS. It originated outside our galaxy and is traveling at a speed of 209,214.72 kilometers per hour. NASA has released a new image of it, showing it as a bright spot with a faint tail behind it.
A video recently went viral on social media, showing many young people admitting that they no longer rely on friends or family for advice, communication, and emotional support, but on AI chatbots like ChatGPT. Some even described it as a companion like their "boyfriend" or "girlfriend," with whom they talk throughout the day and share their joys and sorrows. The term "parasocial" is being used to describe this rapidly spreading behavior.
The crackdown on illegal Afghan nationals continues in Pakistan. The Punjab government has intensified its crackdown against illegal Afghan residents. In November alone, more than 6,000 people have been deported to Afghanistan. A Punjab government minister announced on Thursday that the government has also offered cash rewards to Pakistanis who provide information about Afghans living illegally in the province, which has a population of 130 million.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday temporarily attached new properties worth ₹1,400 crore, further tightening its grip on alleged financial irregularities involving Anil Ambani and his Reliance Group companies. According to sources, this new action brings the total value of properties seized in the case to over ₹9,000 crore.
The agency has taken this action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The attached properties are reportedly located in major cities such as Navi Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, and Bhubaneswar.
The investigation into the car bomb blast near the Red Fort has now reached Al-Falah University (Faridabad). Investigative agencies have identified more than 200 doctors, lecturers, and staff at the university as suspects. Continuous searches and interrogations are underway.
According to sources, investigating agencies are searching hostels and the rooms of students living outside, as well as investigating the backgrounds of staff.
Dog bites are a daily occurrence across the country. Both the government and the courts have already expressed concern over such incidents. This is why the Supreme Court recently ordered the vaccination of all dogs. Amidst this, the Karnataka government has now taken a significant decision. Accordingly, the families of those who die from dog bites will receive a compensation of Rs 5 lakh.
The Supreme Court on Thursday passed an interim order raising the retirement age of judicial officers in Madhya Pradesh from 60 to 61. A bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, Justice Prasanna B. Varale, and Justice K. Vinod Chandran delivered the ruling.
The Supreme Court, citing a similar decision by the Telangana High Court, asked why judicial officers should not be granted this relief if the state government is willing.
Shreyasi Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJPs) MLA from Jamui, took oath as a minister on Thursday following the expansion of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s new cabinet.
The NDA returned to power with a sweeping mandate in the Bihar Assembly elections, winning 202 of 243 seats. Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Chief Minister for the 10th time, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries present at the ceremony.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court delivered its verdict on the issue of setting deadlines for the President and Governor to approve bills. In its decision, the Supreme Court clarified that governors do not have the power to block bills passed by the Legislative Assembly.
Indeed, the Supreme Court stated that the Governor of any state has only three options: the Governor must either approve any bill, send it for reconsideration, or send it to the President.
The government has appointed senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sandip Pradhan as a whole-time member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). He has been given this responsibility for three years.
SEBI currently has two whole-time members-Amarjeet Singh and Kamlesh Chandra Varshney. Pradhan will now join them as part of the board's leadership team.
Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor announced her second pregnancy on Thursday on her Instagram account. She shared beautiful photos, clearly showing her baby bump.
Sonam captioned the photos, "Mom," and used a kiss emoji. Her fans and Bollywood celebrities congratulated her with the post.
The Supreme Court delivered its verdict on the Presidential Reference on Thursday. In this, President Draupadi Murmu had asked whether a constitutional court can set a time limit for the President and Governors to approve bills passed by state legislatures.
Another historic moment has been recorded in Bihar politics. Nitish Kumar sworn in as Bihar's Chief Minister for the 10th time today. The Governor administered the oath of office and secrecy to him in a grand ceremony held at Gandhi Maidan in Patna.
Janata Dal (United) supremo Nitish Kumar has been sworn in as Bihar chief minister for a record 10th time, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other prominent leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Nitish Kumar reaches the stage at Gandhi Maidan; massive crowd on ground! Several CMs in attendance as he prepares to take oath as Bihar CM for the 10th time.
The United States has approved a significant $93 million defense deal with India. It includes 100 FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles, 25 command launch units, and 216 M982A1 Excalibur precision-guided artillery rounds. This information was provided in a notification sent to Congress by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
The total cost of the deal is estimated at $93 million, with approximately $45.7 million for the Javelin system and approximately $47.1 million for the Excalibur rounds.
The Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a cold wave warning for Delhi-NCR today. Temperatures are dropping across the region, with a blanket of fog and haze expected, especially in the early morning.
Due to this cold, wind speeds are also low, allowing pollution particles to settle, further deteriorating air quality.
Gold and silver prices saw a sharp rise across the country on Thursday, November 20th. Amid the wedding season, strong gold prices have added to consumers' pockets in the domestic market. Gold and silver prices are also showing strength in the international market, directly impacting the Indian market.
Bihar politics is once again undergoing a major change. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will take oath for the 10th time in office today, Thursday. After being unanimously elected leader of the NDA legislature party at its meeting on Wednesday, she submitted her resignation to Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and staked claim to form the new government. All preparations for the swearing-in ceremony at Gandhi Maidan in Patna have been completed.
New Delhi: Get all the day’s essential news—politics, crime, sports, and more—in a quick, easy-to-read format. Stay informed with breaking updates and top stories in just one click. Perfect for busy readers who want fast, reliable news summaries anytime, anywhere.
